Hawfinch Yessss!!!!

[vinnychameleon]

SAW MY FIRST HAWFINCH TODAY!!! . I was driving to the shops and saw a small shape at the top of an oak. It looked like it had a very thick bill so I stopped. Ihad a good look and it was a hawfinch. It took off and flew back towards some woods. I am thrilled!!!

[glsammy]

Well done! I saw my first one yesterday as well! In fact there were four of them, very high in the trees. I tried some shots but they're awful!

[Gill Catton]

Grrrrrrrrr mumble mumble (they don't exist)................

hmpmh maybe one day

sigh......
(lucky you!!)

[John]

Hi VC

I don't want to burst your bubble but are you sure you saw a Hawfinch. They are quite rare in Devon. Also if the bird was near shops I would be surprised.

If you are not too sure about Hawfinches you can easily be caught out. Here is a photo of one I took last year.


If you are still sure it was a Hawfinch you saw then you should perhaps seek out your county recorder and let him know of the sighting. Your recorder should be James McCarthy and his e-mail address was (and should still be) devon-birdrecorder@lycos.com.

John

[vinnychameleon]

hey john. am pretty sure it was a hawfinch. I was in the countryside when i saw it on the way to the shops. I was actually about 10 minutes away from the shop. If you know of any other bird with a thick bill please tell me as it could have been that.

[Deer Stalker]

Yay Vinny.

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Grrrrrrrrr mumble mumble (they don't exist)................

hmpmh maybe one day

sigh......
(lucky you!!)

Just to confirm they do Gill, here's the "best" of the shots I took yesterday. Up to my usual standards!

I went back again today, all excited as the sun was shining, and it was a no show. Tomorrow, maybe? If I can get through the snow.

[John]

Originally Posted by vinnychameleon

hey john. am pretty sure it was a hawfinch. I was in the countryside when i saw it on the way to the shops. I was actually about 10 minutes away from the shop. If you know of any other bird with a thick bill please tell me as it could have been that.

I'm not suggesting you didn't see one just that if you are confident you did then an e-mail to your county recorder should be sent giving location, date and time seen.

If you are confident with it then I am well pleased for you as that is an excellent find.

BTW where was it you saw it. I know Devon fairly well so would be interested myself when down that way. II don't want you to give away where you live just where the bird was seen).

John

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by glsammy

Just to confirm they do Gill, here's the "best" of the shots I took yesterday. Up to my usual standards!

I went back again today, all excited as the sun was shining, and it was a no show. Tomorrow, maybe? If I can get through the snow.

Pah Chaffinch in a mask.......
ummm and a cloak

[scholesy]

For any people in or visiting North Yorkshire a trip to Fountains Abbey could produce sightings of hawfinch.

I saw them there a long time ago, and I think they still are in the vicinity.

If anyone saw the BBC2 program, Nature's Calendar that was on a while back there was a part on Fountains Abbey. There was a clip of a hawfinch in that peice.

For some reason Chris Packham didn't mention the bird or do a piece on it but there was definitely footage of a hawfinch shown.

If I remember rightly there some very tall trees near a cark park (a stone wall rings a bell too) and they were right at the very top.

I'm planning a trip to Fountains Abbey in March in a goshawk quest, but thats another thread.